3. Ask questions to
get your opponents to admit their case has weaknesses.

EXAMPLE:

Q: “Your case supports
nationwide sex education. Right?”

R: “Right.”

Q: “And your study
that shows sex education works comes from one city.”

R: “Yes and the
experts say it will work well in other areas.”

Q: “Hmmm. Do you think
it will work even in areas where there are serious community objections to sex
education?”

R: “Yes.”

Q: “Any proof for
this?”

R: “Our study
concluded it would work elsewhere.”

GENERAL RULES FOR THE QUESTIONER

First, do not make
statements. The
questioner should ask questions only. So, don’t present arguments or new
evidence when you are the questioner.

DON’T SAY:

“There aren’t many
accidents.”

“Let me read a piece
of evidence. According to . . .”

DO ASK:

“How many accidents
are there?”

“Given that pitbulls
have killed people, how can you argue that pitbulls are good?”

Second, don’t
masquerade your arguments as questions. Ask questions to gain information, not to ask your opponent
to confirm a point you made.

DON’T SAY:

“Didn’t we show there
are homeless people?”

“Didn’t I prove there
many deaths occur each year?”

DO ASK:

“Did you show there
are only a few homeless people?”

“How many deaths each
year do you claim occur?”

Third, and most
important, be courteous. Treat your opponents nicely, even if you feel they’re being rude.
Debate is supposed to be civil. If you want to duke it out, join boxing.

DON’T DO THIS:

Q: “Is the Clinton
administration acting on poverty?”

R: “Yes, it is.”

Q: “What? Do you know
anything?”

R: “I, uh . . .”

Q: “Look dummy.
Clinton hasn’t done nothing. Got it?”

DO THIS:

Q: “Is the Clinton
administration acting on the poverty issue?”

R: “Yes, it is.”
Q: “Do you have any support for your answer?”

R: “Um. Yes.”

Q: “And what is that
support?”

Fourth, give your
opponent a chance to answer questions.

DON’T CUT OFF YOUR OPPONENT LIKE THIS:

Q: “Why?”

R: “Because of th . .
.”

Q: “Are you sure . .
.”

R: “Of c . . .”

Q: “Let’s move on.”

DO GIVE YOUR OPPONENT A CHANCE TO ANSWER:

Q: “Why hasn’t there
been action on these prescription drugs?”

R: “Because of the
government regulations and because of industry profit motives.”

Q: “Okay, but aren’t .
. .”

DON’T ASK SEVERAL QUESTIONS WITHOUT GIVING YOUR OPPONENT A
CHANCE TO RESPOND:

“What was the date of
that evidence? . . . and what did it say? . . . And why did she say it? . . .
Huh?”

DO ASK ONE QUESTION AT A TIME:

“First, what was the
date of that evidence?”

Fifth, maintain
control of the cross-examination. Allowing your opponent to answer your questions doesn’t
mean your opponent is entitled to give a full speech each time he or she
answers. Just give him or her the needed time to answer.

DON’T LET THE RESPONDENT QUESTION YOU WHEN YOU’RE THE
QUESTIONER:

Q: “Why would the
United States attack China?”

R: “Hmmm. Well, you
answer this: Why would China attack the United States?”

Q: “Well. I don’t know.
Hmmm. I’ll have to think about that. Do you have another question for me?”

Use
your time for your questions. And use your questions to get information which
will damage your opponent’s case and build up your case.

the Respondent

1. Give clear, specific,
concise answers.

DON’T ANSWER LIKE
THIS:

“The use of
detrimental fluid acquisition in the pilot project examination elements makes
the confusion understandable. The resulting effects of the H2O in
the ground were not considered, however . . .”

ANSWER LIKE THIS:

Answer: “The pilot
project didn’t work because of the large amounts of water underground.”

Answer: “Yes.”

Answer: “Well, that’s
because the trees grow much faster.”

2. Ask for
clarification if the question is unclear.

EXAMPLES:

“Would you please
repeat the question?”

“I don’t understand
the question.”

“Would you reword your
question.”

3. Qualify your
answers.

EXAMPLES:

“A qualified no.”

“Well, yes, but only
if the road is built using the south route.”

4. Retort questions
that attack your arguments.

EXAMPLE:

Q: “Your case
discusses a threat to cut off ties with the Mexican police.”

R: “That’s right.
Until the drug traffic is cleared up, no ties with the Mexican police.”

Q: “Won’t that sour
U.S.-Mexican relations?”

R: “No. It will make the
relations better by clarifying and resolving the drug trafficking issue.”

GENERAL RULES FOR THE RESPONDENT

First, Avoid being
rude. Don’t get
into an argument with the questioner.

DON’T DO THIS:

Q: “What is the date
of your evidence?”

R: “Look, it’s newer
than your evidence. Your evidence is so old it belongs in a nursing home.”

“Yes and, hey, have I
told you the fourteen other ways our plan will save the world? Let me tell you
all about it.”

DO SAY:

“Yes it will help the
environment because litterers will be heavily fined.”

Third, Don’t read new
evidence. Cross
examination is for questions about arguments that you and your opponent have
already made in speeches. It is not for questions about evidence that you have
not read yet.

DON’T SAY:

“Well, this piece of
evidence will answer that. According to...”

DO SAY:

“Space stations can
give added energy and we can document that in a later speech.”